Frank l



(No Model.)

F. L. CROSS.

GORSBT PASTENING.

No. 412,020. Patented oct. 1, 1889.

N PETERS, mwumgnnor. wuhingtun, D. C

UNITED STATES PATENT FFTCE.

CORSET-FASTENING.

SPECIFCATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 412,020, dated October 1, 1889.

Application filed May 23, 1889. Serial No. 311,821. (No modell) and readily secured upon the wearer, andwhereby the corset may be quickly detached or unfastened, and has for its secondary objects simplicity and cheapness of construction.

To these ends my invention consists in certain features of construction and combinations of devices, all of which will be hereinafter more fully described, and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

1n the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a plan view of the two parts of a corset-clasp separated, embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the opposite side of one of such parts-namely, that part shown at the lett-hand side of Fig. l, with the studs or posts drawn in section. Fig. 3 is a vertical crosssection taken at the line a: of Fig. 2, with the companion part shown at the righthand side of Fig. l added in operative engagement. Fig. a is aplan view of a modification of the part shown at Fig. 2, with the studs in section. Fig. 5 is a vertical crosssecton taken at the line 'y y of the last-mentioned iigure,with the companion part added.

In the several views the same parl. will be found designated b'y the same numeral of reference. l

2 designates a husk or one part ofthe corset-clasp, and 8 the other. These parts may be attached to the body of the corset in any suitable manner, as will be readily understood by those skilled in the art. The husk or part 2 consists of a dexible plate or strip 4:, formed or provided along one edge with a se ries of hooks or jaws 5 and intermediate t spaces or openings The hooks or jaws 5 are xed or permanent, and are so arranged the husk 2 that their throats or openalong lengthwise of the saine. The

ings extend husk or part 3 consists of a flexible plate or strip 7, provided with a series of hooks or headed studs or posts S projecting at right angles to the face or side of the busk and adapted to engage with the hooks or jaws 5 on the part 2.

Referring now more particularly to Figs. l, 2, and 3, it will be observed that the elongated hooks 5, which occupy a position near the centei1 of the plate 4 lengthwise, are formed wit-h transverse saw cuts or slits 9. These are provided to enable the strip or plate fl to bend to conform to the shape of the wearer and to yield tothe body ot the person in sitting, stooping, or assuming other *postures.

In practice the hooks 5 are arranged on the inside or toward the body of the wearer, as represented at Fig. l, and provision must be made (to insure comfort to the wearer) for permitting the upper and lower ends of the part 2 to bend easily outward toward each other and to assume the forni of a curve or bow.

Vth the long hooks shown but a slight degree of ilexure could be obtained without the presence of the saw cuts or slits,which operate to give approximately the same exr bility to the strip 4 as it' the hooks 5 were entirely omitted.

As in practice nearly all the bending or curving occurs intermediate the ends of the part in those hooks which are located near the extremities of the strip; but, if desired, they may of course be formed therein.

10 designates a spring-plate, which is secured to the plate l near one edge and extends laterally to near the points of the hooks 5, and preferably in a plane nearly coincident therewith. The spring-plate is connected to the plate 4, preferably, by rivets 11,' and between the two plates at each rivet, excepting the middle one ll, is placed a small washer 12, through which the shank of the rivet passes, 'for maintaining'the plates-at the proper distance apart, or for insuring the elevation ot the free edge of the spring-plate, in order that it may co-operate with the hooks 5 and the studs or posts 8. Instead ot the collars or washers 12, Jthe rivets maybe provided 2, it is not required to provide the slits with shoulders, Yor the spring-plate may be so bent as to dispense vwith either; but I prefer to employ some intermediate means for the purpose described. The spring-plate is also made of a flexible and elastic substance or materialas steel, for instance.

If the spring-plate were secured immovably to the plate 4, both plates would buckle or crinkle between the rivets,- when it should be attempted to bend them, and hence the parts would not only be stiff and uncomfortable to the wearer, but would soon lose their shape and become worthless. In order to avoid this, I construct the parts so that they may slide or move longitudinallyindependently on each side of the middle portion or rivet. The center rivet ll`rL of the two plates may be unprovided with any collar, and the parts 2 4 secured firmly together and in contact at this locality.- At each rivet above that marked ll the spring-plate is provided with a slot 13, longer than the diameter of the rivet and extending upwardly, and at each rivet below that marked lln the spring-plate is formed with a slot 14 of greater length than the diameterofthe rivet and extending in a downward direction. The rivets ll pass through round holes in .the plate 4 and through the slots 13 and 14 in the spring-plate, and are headed, as illustrated. By this construction the connected plates 2 4 may be bent as one into loop form or until the ends or extremities of the plate 4 touch each other without buckling vor crinkling either part. Thus the device is adapted to readily conform to the shape of the wearer and respond with facility to the movements of the person.

In the use of the clasp or fastening shown at Figs. l, 2, and 3 it is simply necessary (when it is desired to fasten the corset on the wearer) to overlap the part 3 by the part 2 and press or squeeze the two together to cause the studs or posts 8 to lattenor bend the spring-plate to an extent sufficient to allow the heads of the studs or posts` to enter the hooks 5 and engage therewith. As soon as each vstud is engaged with-its hook the shank of the stud occupies the slot or space l5 between the free edge of the spring-plate and the point of the hook, and the spring-plate resumes its normal position, and thereby effects a locking or positive engagement between the hook and the stud, all as clearly represented at Figs. 2 and 3. When it is desired to remove the corset, it is only necessary to slide or move one or both of the parts 2 3 longitudinally until the posts or studs register or coincide with thev spaces or openin gs 6, when by the pressure of the body the posts will be caused to pass out through said openings, and thus effect a separation of the parts.

In practice I make the distance between the openings or outlets 6 and that between the studs equal, so that when the parts are moved endwise to take off the corset all of the studs arrive at their respective outlets simultaneously, and the corset becomes unfastened at all points at the same time, as indicated at Fig. l.

Referring now to Figs. 4t and 5 of the drawings, it will be observed that the hooks 5 are made shorter and the openings or outlets 6 longer than in the other figures, but the principle of operation is the same in both constructions. In lieu of the long continuous spring l0 (shown at Fig. 2) it will be further observed that a series of short independent springs are employed, and these springs, instead of being made separate from and applied to the plate 4, are made integral therewith by cutting out the material on three sides and bending it up to form tongues, as clearly represented in the drawings. The part 3 is adapted to co-operate with the part 2 shown at Figs. 4 and 5 in substantially the manner it does with the part 2 shown at Fig.f2.

The construction shown at Figs. 1,2and 3 is preferred for the reason that the corset may be put on and fastened'more expeditiously, on account of the presence of the long hooks. With short hooks care must be taken to bring the studs or posts into alignment with the hooks, while with long hooks little or no attention is required in this respect.

In each case it will be seen that the heads of the studs or posts are eccentric or extend laterally in one direction only, or are made L- shaped in cross-section. This is somewhat important, for with full-headed or T-shaped posts it would not be possible to conveniently effect a locking or engagement of the posts and hooks with the springs constructed as shown.

The plate it may be perforated or slotted at -its outer edge, as seen at 16, for the purpose of enabling the attachment of the corset-body thereto, as represented at Figs. 3 and 5. y

Numerous changes in detail construction may be imadewithout departing from the spirit of my invention. I

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, isl l l p 1.,In a corset-fastening, the combination, with a busk having a series of studs projecting from its face, of a busk having a series of fixed hooks along its edge, the throats of which are arranged lengthwise of said busk and adapted to receive said studs, anda series of openings between said hooks, adapted to permit the escape of said studs when said IOO IIO

busks are moved longitudinally, substantially as set forth.

2. In a corset-fastening, the combination, with a busk having a series of studs projecting from its face, of a busk having a series of fixed hooks along its edge, the throats of which are arranged lengthwise of said busk and adapted toV receive said studs, and a spring plate or plates for holding said studs in engagement with said hooks, substantially as set forth.

3. In a corset-fastening, the combination, with a busk having a series of studs, of a busk having a series of fixed hooks the throats of which are arranged lengthwise of said busk, a spring` plate or plates adapted to look or hold said studs in engagement with said hooks, and a series of openings between said hooks, adapted to permit the intentional escape or disengagement of said studsupon an endwise movement of either of said busks, substantially as set forth.

l. ln a corset-fastening, tlie combination, with a studded busk, of a flexible plate or strip provided with a series of hooks, one or more of said liooksbeing transversely slitted, substantially as set forth.

5. ln a corset-fastening, the combination, with a studded busk, of a flexible plate bavinga series of hooks, a series of openings between saidliooks, and a continuons springplate connected to said flexible plate, substantially as described, to permit of an independent longitudinal movement of the parts at their ends when bent or bowed, substantiall57 as set forth.

6. In a eorsetfastening, the combination,

Witli a. studded busk, of a flexible plate liaving a series of hooks, a series of openings between said hooks, and a Continuous spring`- plate provided with elongated holes and a series of securing devices, as rivets, wliereb7 the ends of tbe two plates are adapted when bent or bowed to move independently, and

tlins avoid all buckling or orinkling;7 substantially as 'set forth.

7. ln a Corset-fastening, the combination, with a-studded busk, of a flexible plate liaving a series of hooks, and a spring plate or plates whose free edge or edges extend toward said hooks and form therewith a slot or space, as l5, for the introduction of the studsj sub stantia-lly as set forth.

8. ln a corset-fastening, the Combination of a busk provided with eoeentrio studs, of a busk having a series of hooks, a spring looking-plate, and a series of openings bet-Ween said hooks, substantially as set forth.

9. In a oorsebfastening, the combination of a busk provided with partiallydieaded stu ds, and a bnsk having a series of hooks, and a series of openings between said hooks, the said studs and openings being arranged the saine distance apart7 so that when the busks are moved endwise the said studs may all siinultaneously make their exit from the hooks at the said openings substantially as seiforth.

Signed at New York eity, in the county of New Yorkand State of New York, this 21st day of May, A. D. 1889.

FRANK L. CROSS. lVitnessos:

JACOB FELBEL, 'EDWIN C. DUsENBURY. 

